Traveling as much as we do, things happen. Some good things, some bad things, some things that turn out to be neither. Today, the fire alarm in the hotel went off. I've been in 3 hotels when alarms have gone off. For me, there's a moment of stillness as I figure out what the sound is, but once the sound's meaning has registered, I move quickly. I don't run, I don't rush. I do move with alacrity.
This time, I grabbed my leather duffle, shoved Bear, Snorlax, and Lithus' Nexus pad into it, slung my backpack over my shoulder, looked out the peephole in my door and headed out. Made it across the parking lot less than 90 seconds after I'd first heard the alarm.
Slowly, it dawned on those of us out there that the staff wasn't pouring out of the building, so I went in to ask. There was no one at the desk or in the lobby. As I was walking back out, another woman was going in. By the time she came out, she had news ~ the alarm was set off by accident and they were working on getting it turned off.
So, we all went back in. It's still wicked noisy and annoying as I write this, but annoying is much less bothersome than on fire.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Monday, July 21, 2014
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Lithus is fire fighting this season in Klamath Falls, OR. It looks like this:
Our first night here, we spent the night at a different hotel, though. We got checked in, found out where to park, and jumped into the rental car.
Only...
Yeah, that's the hotel's complimentary shuttle. A professional hazard of our world is trying to remember ~ and often forgetting ~ which car we're driving. That being said, this is the first time we've actually gotten into the wrong vehicle.
Luckily, we checked out the very next day and no one was any the wiser.
We headed over to the ODF (Oregon Department of Forestry) fire base.
The ODF donated a FEMA trailer for the pilots to hang out in. Gives them a place to sit down, in the air conditioning, while they are waiting for a call. Lithus got a call before lunch, so I hung out in the trailer.
Legally, he's allowed to fly from sun up to sun down. He did. I'm glad I thought to grab my camera when I heard his rotors coming over the hills.
Our first night here, we spent the night at a different hotel, though. We got checked in, found out where to park, and jumped into the rental car.
Only...
Yeah, that's the hotel's complimentary shuttle. A professional hazard of our world is trying to remember ~ and often forgetting ~ which car we're driving. That being said, this is the first time we've actually gotten into the wrong vehicle.
Luckily, we checked out the very next day and no one was any the wiser.
We headed over to the ODF (Oregon Department of Forestry) fire base.
The ODF donated a FEMA trailer for the pilots to hang out in. Gives them a place to sit down, in the air conditioning, while they are waiting for a call. Lithus got a call before lunch, so I hung out in the trailer.
 |
| No, I didn't take a nap |
Legally, he's allowed to fly from sun up to sun down. He did. I'm glad I thought to grab my camera when I heard his rotors coming over the hills.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Thank Goodness for...
...McDonald's...? Really?
For as interesting and glamourous as our lives often seem, we're really very mundane usually. Lithus flies. I write. Sure, we do it from different places occasionally, but it's really very basic. Take now, for example. We're in Klamath Falls, OR for him to fight fires this season. The only glitch has been that neither he nor
M-O-M have cell service where the fire is. But the fuel truck driver does, so he and M-O-M have used the driver's phone to call when they've needed me to know something, or needed me to handle something, or whatever.
Sometimes, though, it gets interesting.
The fire they are fighting is 45 minutes to an hour away by car. No cell service. But it's almost out. Another fire is brewing 300 miles away in John Day. They might be relocated today. But they might not. Before they left this morning, we were making a plan.
If they are relocated, Lithus will take off, and M-O-M will borrow the driver's phone and tell me. Then M-O-M would come back and get me. ...Wait, what? Drive an hour back here, just to get me, then drive another hour to get to the place he could have started from, then drive another 5 hours to get to John Day? Oh hell no. Call and I will rent a car, and meet up with everyone in John Day.
Except that we aren't at all sure where we would stay in John Day. And can't make reservations because we aren't sure we're relocating. And don't know for certain if we will even have cell service in the area. Or who will be where, when.
I finally said "if all else fails, when you get off work, I'll be at the McDonald's." To which Lithus replied, "you know there's a McDonald's?" Nope. But...I do. Because McDonald's is everywhere. And sure enough, there's a McDonald's in John Day, Oregon. The last thing I said to him as he headed out today was "if I need to be, I'll be at the McDonald's."
Now, I just got a call from Lithus (on the driver's phone). We're staying put for today, at least. But we have a plan. One that will probably stand from one small town relocation to the next. I'll be at the McDonald's.
For as interesting and glamourous as our lives often seem, we're really very mundane usually. Lithus flies. I write. Sure, we do it from different places occasionally, but it's really very basic. Take now, for example. We're in Klamath Falls, OR for him to fight fires this season. The only glitch has been that neither he nor
M-O-M have cell service where the fire is. But the fuel truck driver does, so he and M-O-M have used the driver's phone to call when they've needed me to know something, or needed me to handle something, or whatever.
Sometimes, though, it gets interesting.
The fire they are fighting is 45 minutes to an hour away by car. No cell service. But it's almost out. Another fire is brewing 300 miles away in John Day. They might be relocated today. But they might not. Before they left this morning, we were making a plan.
If they are relocated, Lithus will take off, and M-O-M will borrow the driver's phone and tell me. Then M-O-M would come back and get me. ...Wait, what? Drive an hour back here, just to get me, then drive another hour to get to the place he could have started from, then drive another 5 hours to get to John Day? Oh hell no. Call and I will rent a car, and meet up with everyone in John Day.
Except that we aren't at all sure where we would stay in John Day. And can't make reservations because we aren't sure we're relocating. And don't know for certain if we will even have cell service in the area. Or who will be where, when.
I finally said "if all else fails, when you get off work, I'll be at the McDonald's." To which Lithus replied, "you know there's a McDonald's?" Nope. But...I do. Because McDonald's is everywhere. And sure enough, there's a McDonald's in John Day, Oregon. The last thing I said to him as he headed out today was "if I need to be, I'll be at the McDonald's."
Now, I just got a call from Lithus (on the driver's phone). We're staying put for today, at least. But we have a plan. One that will probably stand from one small town relocation to the next. I'll be at the McDonald's.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Cedar City Hotel Lobby Post
I've written a lot about Cedar City, Utah. Partly because I'm stunned at how much I liked the town, but partly because there was simply a lot to write about (which is why I like the town).
Cedar City is the home of the Utah Shakespeare Festival, something the Crystal Inn does not take lightly.
Except in their business center
Elsewhere in town...
Did you know there are such a thing as "farm stores" and you can buy chicks there? It's true. Had they not just sold out yesterday, you could have also bought turkeys and geese, as well. I am also informed that you can buy rabbits at some of these stores. Shocked! I was seriously stunned.
The local community theatre was doing Oklahoma! How can you not go see Oklahoma!? Here's the thing ~ this town has a Tony Award winning regional theatre. Even the community theatre is top notch. There's a love song titled People Will Say We're In Love. This performance of it was as good as any performance I've seen anywhere. London, New York, anywhere.
So many reasons Cedar City wins in a game of What Would It Take.
 |
| Crystal Inn |
Cedar City is the home of the Utah Shakespeare Festival, something the Crystal Inn does not take lightly.
Except in their business center
 |
| Random Nicholas Cage computer screen saver |
Did you know there are such a thing as "farm stores" and you can buy chicks there? It's true. Had they not just sold out yesterday, you could have also bought turkeys and geese, as well. I am also informed that you can buy rabbits at some of these stores. Shocked! I was seriously stunned.
The local community theatre was doing Oklahoma! How can you not go see Oklahoma!? Here's the thing ~ this town has a Tony Award winning regional theatre. Even the community theatre is top notch. There's a love song titled People Will Say We're In Love. This performance of it was as good as any performance I've seen anywhere. London, New York, anywhere.
So many reasons Cedar City wins in a game of What Would It Take.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Austin, NV
In which the man formerly known as Not My Mac becomes My-Other-Mac.
Back on Sunday, June 15th, Lithus was scheduled to move the helicopter from Enterprise, Utah to Redding, California, by way of Reno, NV. I was scheduled to fly with him. For various reasons that aren't important to the story, except that they occurred, I ended up driving with My-Other-Mac, the mechanic. It's approximately a 4 hour flight to Reno from Enterprise, and an 8 hour drive.
So, M-O-M and I wave Lithus off and head out on our own adventure. I nap; he wakes me if I'm going to miss something interesting. We stop for food; I hand him his sandwiches, while he drives. It's a typical road trip. We get to 220 miles outside of Reno and cheer about the fact that we will, indeed, make it that same day. Until...
We hit the mountains outside of Austin, NV. Just as we are climbing up and around one mountainous curve, the truck does something. M-O-M and I have just enough time to look at each other and say "that wasn't good" before the truck stops. Just...stops. In the middle of the road. In the mountains. On the blind side of the curve.
Do I have cell service? A single bar. So, I call 911 ~ only I have enough cell service to place the call but not enough to connect. We agree I will walk up the hill and place the call. First, I make notes about what I am supposed to say.
But about halfway up the hill, 911 calls me back. The very nice dispatcher on the other end assures me she will send help ~ the Nevada Highway Patrol is on its way.
Meanwhile, it really registered that M-O-M had said we were on the blindside of a curve. The people cruising up the hill couldn't see us. And he couldn't find the emergency flares or triangles. Now, in a case of the Universe giving you what you need, I had been chilly that morning and had asked Lithus to unpack his jacket. His navy colored, but oh so warm, jacket. It also happens that it's his emergency jacket, so can be reversed to blaze SEE ME orange. Down the hill I headed, flipping the jacket as I went, to slow traffic (but not get hit myself). While I am slowing traffic, M-O-M is trying to get the truck going just enough to at least get it out of the middle of the road. Some how, because he is the Guy You Want With You, he managed to do just that.
Turns out, the NHP officer was 45 minutes out, but the Sheriff's department was close. We really didn't care at that point.
M-O-M managed to get the truck and the trailer (see above) off the road, unhitch the trailer, and then, with the lovely man from the sheriff's office following, we drove the 2 miles it took to get us into Austin, Nevada ~ in about 45 minutes, where the NHP trooper joined us.
Turns out, the trooper had a 1-ton truck and got off work at 8:00 pm. He offered to drive over the hill, and tow the trailer back to town, so it didn't sit out on the side of the road all night. On his own time, on his own dime. There is something to be said for small towns.
Which Austin, NV is. In 2010, the population was 192 people. That was up 8 people since the previous census in 2000, when the population was 184. Anyway, there are 3 motels in Austin. M-O-M managed to get us the last 2 rooms in the entire town. Not sure what was happening, but it was a boom night. We stayed here:
This was my room.
Sadly, there was no heat. Why was this sad in June? Because we woke the next morning to a snowstorm. Not light flurries. SNOW.
Back on Sunday, June 15th, Lithus was scheduled to move the helicopter from Enterprise, Utah to Redding, California, by way of Reno, NV. I was scheduled to fly with him. For various reasons that aren't important to the story, except that they occurred, I ended up driving with My-Other-Mac, the mechanic. It's approximately a 4 hour flight to Reno from Enterprise, and an 8 hour drive.
So, M-O-M and I wave Lithus off and head out on our own adventure. I nap; he wakes me if I'm going to miss something interesting. We stop for food; I hand him his sandwiches, while he drives. It's a typical road trip. We get to 220 miles outside of Reno and cheer about the fact that we will, indeed, make it that same day. Until...
We hit the mountains outside of Austin, NV. Just as we are climbing up and around one mountainous curve, the truck does something. M-O-M and I have just enough time to look at each other and say "that wasn't good" before the truck stops. Just...stops. In the middle of the road. In the mountains. On the blind side of the curve.
Do I have cell service? A single bar. So, I call 911 ~ only I have enough cell service to place the call but not enough to connect. We agree I will walk up the hill and place the call. First, I make notes about what I am supposed to say.
But about halfway up the hill, 911 calls me back. The very nice dispatcher on the other end assures me she will send help ~ the Nevada Highway Patrol is on its way.
Meanwhile, it really registered that M-O-M had said we were on the blindside of a curve. The people cruising up the hill couldn't see us. And he couldn't find the emergency flares or triangles. Now, in a case of the Universe giving you what you need, I had been chilly that morning and had asked Lithus to unpack his jacket. His navy colored, but oh so warm, jacket. It also happens that it's his emergency jacket, so can be reversed to blaze SEE ME orange. Down the hill I headed, flipping the jacket as I went, to slow traffic (but not get hit myself). While I am slowing traffic, M-O-M is trying to get the truck going just enough to at least get it out of the middle of the road. Some how, because he is the Guy You Want With You, he managed to do just that.
Turns out, the NHP officer was 45 minutes out, but the Sheriff's department was close. We really didn't care at that point.
M-O-M managed to get the truck and the trailer (see above) off the road, unhitch the trailer, and then, with the lovely man from the sheriff's office following, we drove the 2 miles it took to get us into Austin, Nevada ~ in about 45 minutes, where the NHP trooper joined us.
Turns out, the trooper had a 1-ton truck and got off work at 8:00 pm. He offered to drive over the hill, and tow the trailer back to town, so it didn't sit out on the side of the road all night. On his own time, on his own dime. There is something to be said for small towns.
Which Austin, NV is. In 2010, the population was 192 people. That was up 8 people since the previous census in 2000, when the population was 184. Anyway, there are 3 motels in Austin. M-O-M managed to get us the last 2 rooms in the entire town. Not sure what was happening, but it was a boom night. We stayed here:
This was my room.
Sadly, there was no heat. Why was this sad in June? Because we woke the next morning to a snowstorm. Not light flurries. SNOW.
Dressed in light capri pants, and a t-shirt, I continued to be grateful for Lithus' jacket.
M-O-M and I had a couple of things happening. 1. We are both adaptable by nature. Enthusiastic, even. Life hands you lemons, once you bitch about it, do something with them. Tuck em down your bra, make lemonade, something. But don't just keep bitching about it. You could miss out on something cool. 2. We were trying to stay positive for the other.
That being said, the next morning, we had gotten breakfast, checked on the trailer, wandered a couple rock shops, made a couple of purchases, walked to the other end of town to get stamps from the post office only to discover the post office didn't open until 10:00. We figured it would only be 5 or 10 minutes. When I looked at my phone, it was 8:55. I looked at M-O-M and said "it's going to be a long day..." He replied "Not if we start drinking now." And my friends, it was tempting. Instead, we went exploring.
Here's Austin...
 |
| Check out that amazing trunk, just sitting there. |
There's a castle, up a hill. The hill is only a mile, so we went. Because, hello, there's a castle in Austin, Nevada.
By 11:30, Lithus had arrived in Austin, from Reno, in another 1-ton truck in order to tow us all back. Only, the truck worked just fine. Yep. By the next morning, it was running like a champ. Up hills, down hills, hitting 75 mph, no problems.
We convoyed in, stayed close and in radio contact, witnessed a car accident that should've been deadly but wasn't (TTG) when Lithus got out to check on her, got stopped at the California border to be checked for illegal recycling (it's a thing now), and rolled into Redding, California by way of Reno, Nevada about 9:30 that night. Like nothing had ever happened.
Except that little detour in Austin...Ah...the adventure.
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